Film Review: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

 "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark"

  *** (out of ****)

The first image we see in "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" (1988) - which I will refer to as "Elvira" going forward - is footage of the Roger Corman "B" movie "It Conquered the World" (1956). From that moment you may think that is a tip off of what to expect from "Elvira", which will turn out to be an equally bad and campy movie. You'd only be half right.

Movies like "Elvira" are actually smarter than some audiences may give them credit for. It's easy to criticize something like this and not try to meet it at it's level. "Elvira" is much more self aware than "It Conquered the World". Those actors - a young Peter Graves stars in it - play their roles too straight. It makes us in the audience believe these actors are really taking this serious and that's what makes it unintentially funny. "Elvira" knows the Corman movie is bad. And it probably knows it too is a bad movie but it scathes itself with a wink and smile so we don't have to.

"Elvira" is part comedy / horror but also a social satire, which I found to be the more enjoyable aspect of the movie. That was an unexpected move. As many of us know Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) was a very popular cultural figure in the 1980s as the host of a television show airing campy horror movies which she would crack jokes about. Despite a heavy dose of cleavage the character was essentially a horny 12 year old boy. Or I guess we could say a more bawdy version of Mae West with dialogue flooded with sexual innuendos. Given the gothic nature of the character and its association with horror, you would expect Elvira's big screen movie debut to be a flat out horror movie spoof, like what was eventually done in "Elvira's Haunted Hills" (2001). The social satire however I thought gave the movie a little more depth.

The comedic approach here seems to have been lets take the Elvira character and instead of placing her in the natural environment of a horror movie, lets juxtapose her against a real world setting a la 1950s suburbia. Great comedians from the past did this with their well beloved and established comedic personas. Once the audience became familiar with a character, say like Woody Allen, the fun was to then take that character and throw him in different surroundings to see how he would interact. And so you get Woody in the future or as a character in Russian literature. This is what was decided with Elvira. The greatest contrast for this character would be suburban life setting up a conflict of social and sexual morals. In the "Haunted Hills" movie the unlady like manners of Elvira is set against the Victorian age.

Seemingly understanding her limitations, Peterson plays a late night horror program TV host named Elvira who quits her job after fighting off the advances of the station owner. This proves to be bad timing because she needs to secure $50 thousand dollars in order to launch her Las Vegas show. But the God's are smiling down at her when she discovers her great aunt, Morgana Talbot - Talbot was the surname of Larry Talbot, who would become the Wolf Man - has died. Elvira must travel to the small town of Fallwell - a reference to the Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell - to attend the reading of her aunt's will. Elvira fantasizes she will be the beneficiary of a great inheritance. One large enough to cover the money she needs for her Vegas act. 

When at the reading, Elvira also discovers she has a uncle, Vincent (W. Morgan Sheppard) - perhaps a nod to Vincent Price, another king of "B" horror movies and reportedly offered this role. Suspiciously Vincent is left completely out of the will with the majority going to Elvira. However not receiving a flat out large sum of money, she finds the inheritance disappointing. Uncle Vincent meanwhile becomes obsessed with getting his hands on his departed sister's "cookbook". 

If that isn't enough for Elvira to deal with the entire Massachusetts town is at odds with her thanks to the actions of the community leader Chastity Pariah (Edie McLurg) - whose name should say it all. She is appalled by the sight of Elvira and her blatant sexuality. Outside of some randy teenage boys, the only adult Elvira is able to make friends with is Bob Redding (Daniel Greene) - named after a close friend and collaborator of Cassandra's, Robert Redding, to whom the film is dedicated. Bob, who runs the local move theater, and he only permitted to show G rated movies, becomes the love interest, though he too is shy about sex.   

The "horror" element of the story reveals itself in the Uncle portion of the plot. The cookbook isn't really a cookbook but rather a book of spells, which Elvira finds out too late, after trying to impress Bob with her cooking. If the book gets into Uncle Vincent's hands, it could spell disaster, making him all too powerful. 

For me the horror plotline is the weakest portion of the movie with the social commentary being the strongest. I don't know if "Elvira" necessarily means to be a homage to Roger Corman and his horror movies, but I thought of another campy director as I watched "Elvira", John Waters. Waters, who if we are being charitable, also made movies that were social critiques of suburban middle-class morality, as most evident in what his devotees would call his "lesser" movies such as "Serial Mom" (1994) and "A Dirty Shame" (2004).

The reason the horror plotline doesn't work is because the movie doesn't take it serious. There is nothing scary about the Uncle being a warlock. No fear is built around this and we don't fully understand all the implications of Vincent getting the book and his ultimate plans if he should get it. "Elvira" also does nothing in way of atmosphere and working within the clichés of the genre. Which creates a missed opportunity. Elvira could have starred in her own really bad and campy horror movie.

It seems screenwriters Sam Egan, John Paragon and Peterson had the most fun and interest in the social satire and making their own version of a teenage sex comedy. A lot of the humor in "Elvira" is juvenile at best. Because of Elvira's low cut dress and ample bosom there are a lot of breast jokes. The camera almost seems fixated on them. As if to imply they are too big not to be in any given shot.

Because of the juvenile nature of the movie, the adult relationships aren't dealt with in a mature manner either. We don't accept Elvira and Bob really care about each other. In fact it is kind of difficult to see what Elvira even finds attractive about him. What we see on-screen is like an innocent high school romance where kissing is about as far as you're gonna get.

And yet I do like "Elvira" and its comedically broad and silly nature while also appreciating the social commentary, which isn't as compelling and hard hitting as something by Tennessee Williams. It uses a broad brush to mock the social conservatism movement brought on by Falwell and Ronald Reagan. It's clear the performances are meant to be almost cartoon in nature and Peterson is funny and has a good screen presence. Peterson got her comedy start as a member of the improv troupe, The Groundlings which included Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) and Phil Hartman. Other members of that troupe appear in "Elvira" like Edie McClurg, Lynne Marie Stewart (whom my generation will know as Miss Yvonne, the most beautiful woman in Puppetland) and co-writer John Paragon (Jambi the Genie on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse").

Supposedly Peterson wanted Tim Burton to direct "Elvira", as he had directed her friend Reuben's project, "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" (1985), making his directorial debut. But by the time "Elvira" was in production, he was busy with other projects. Instead Saturday Night Live segment producer James Signorelli was brought in. His only other feature-length directorial effort was the Rodney Dangerfield comedy, "Easy Money" (1983). "Elvira" would be his last feature film as a director. As much as I love Rodney - he's on my Mt. Rushmore of great stand-up comics - I actually prefer Signorelli's work on this film.

Unfortunately, "Elvira" didn't do well at the box-office or with critics. Siskel & Ebert gave the movie two thumbs down. And in a major case of over-reacting, Peterson was nominated for a Razzie Award for "worst actress", which she lost to Liza Minnelli for "Arthur 2" (1988) and "Rent-a-Cop" (1988). 

Younger viewers probably won't like this movie either because of the Elvira character and the overt sexuality. On the website Irish Film Critic, a "critic" wrote a contemporaneous review of the movie and actually stated, "I want to talk about how insanely male-centric the gaze of this camera is as it sweeps back and forth across Elvira's exposed legs and thighs." He goes on to add, "The whole thing exists within the macrocosm of the '80s." I guess I am such a product of the '80s that I hadn't really considered Elvira could be a controversial figure to today's viewers.

Elvira was very much a product of the 1980s and has had an enduring legacy and a career that has lasted more than 40 years. Peterson debuted her Elvira character on a local Los Angeles TV show in 1981 before going national. While it is difficult to deny the influence of Maila Nurmi's Vampira, who is credited as being TV's first horror host, Peterson created a distinctly different character. With the passage of time people have forgotten not only Nurmi but her Vampira character - if interested watch Ed Wood's infamous "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1957) - making Elvira the horror host most are familiar with and influenced by. A modern example would be Sarah Palmer's Gwengoolie, seen on the show Svengoolie. Although Palmer's character isn't sexual.

"Elvira" isn't a great movie or even a great comedy but it is a satisfactory one that manages to succeed in large part because of Peterson's charm and screen presence. The script tries to elevate itself with the social satire but I do wish it would have worked harder on the horror aspect of the plot. "Elvira's Haunted Hills" made a greater effort but didn't fully capitalize on it either. 

Film Review: The Conjuring

  "The Conjuring"

  **** (out of ****)

When I first saw "The Conjuring" (2013) more than a decade ago in theaters, I didn't know there was going to be a sequel. I didn't know it was going to be the beginning of a cinematic universe. What I did know however was that "The Conjuring" was one effective horror movie. I even went as far as to call it one of the best films of 2013! 

To praise "The Conjuring" all these years later may not be such an unusual statement, given the box-office success the film achieved and its cultural impact. But it wasn't such a given back in 2013. The "movie critic" at the New York Daily News ended his "review" stating "If "The Conjuring" were less of a con job, horror fans would not feel equally as trapped." Sullying the good name of film critic Roger Ebert, the "critic" that "reviewed" the film on Ebert's website actually wrote, "There's nothing really scary about Wan's latest because there's nothing particularly mysterious, or inviting about its proceedings." This "critic" even called the film's scenario "thunderously stupid"! Of course these opinions haven't aged well because the overwhelming majority of critics and audience members enjoyed "The Conjuring", leading me to wonder about the ability of these writers to assess film and art in the first place. But given that this is the year of Was I Right - my year long theme of rewatching movies I previously placed on various top ten lists to determine if I was right to chose them - I decided to take another look at the film.

When I think of the golden age of horror movies my mind races back to the Universal monster films of the 1930s and 40s - "Dracula" (1931), "Frankenstein" (1931), "The Mummy" (1932) and "The Wolf Man" (1941). I would argue however that around the time of "The Conjuring" was the beginning of another period of horror movies that could be labeled a "golden age". After the release of "The Conjuring" came "The Babadook" (2014), "Lights Out" (2016), "Annabelle: Creation" (2017), and several other films associated with the Conjuring Universe. Practically all of which made my annual top ten lists. The last decade was a real high mark for the horror genre. And like it or not but a lot of that was due to "The Conjuring" and its success. 

What made "The Conjuring" such an impressive horror film was its cinematic approach and sensibilities. It was a throwback to another golden age of horror films, the 1970s, which is the time period "The Conjuring" takes place in. That isn't merely my own observation but was routinely cited by better critics than the ones referenced above as to what made this film work. New York Times critic Manohla Dargis noted in her review, "The Conjuring" isn't just primarily set in the 1970s, it also taps into the paranoia that is both an evergreen American trait and a crucial characteristic of the films of that era, horror and otherwise." While over at USA Today critic Claudia Puig declared "it brings to mind '70s supernatural horror films such as The Exorcist with its stillness, steady build of suspense and handsome cinematography."

I've often said, usually when talking about food at restaurants, so many chefs want to "update" classic dishes and "improve" them. Frequently I find the "improvements" disappoint. My feeling is learn to perfect the dish the proper traditional way and then, if you must, update it. The point is to understand the foundation of something. It is the same thing with movies and directors. So many times filmmakers want to avoid being "old hat" that they want to come along and reinvent the wheel but they haven't perfected the fundamentals. Director James Wan understood this with "The Conjuring". Wan and his film didn't reinvent the wheel. "The Conjuring" wasn't a game changer in terms of its techniques. It simply took the so-called clichés of the genre and presented them in the best way possible. Clichés get a bad name because we more often than not see them presented badly in films. Nothing terribly original is being done in Hollywood. People are still using the old standby clichés but merely altering them around the edges. Gender and racial recasting of roles is an example. Combing tropes from two different genres is another. But the clichés are clichés for a reason, they work. We just don't see directors effectively use them because they want to be edgy. But by simply telling his story calmly, logically and straightforward Wan turned "The Conjuring" into something special. It wasn't a relic. Instead it set forward a new path. Just learn the fundamentals.  

"The Conjuring" like so many horror films before it, is a variation on our fears of the dark and sounds that go bump in the night. Roger Perron (Ron Livingston) and his wife Carolyn (Lili Taylor) along with their five daughters (Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, and Kyla Deaver) have moved into an old Rhode Island home they bought at an auction. On the surface the home looks fine but slowly things start to go amiss. The family dog refuses to enter the home. All the clocks in the house stop every night at 3:07 am. The home is always chilly despite the furnace properly working. And on and on it goes. Wan is building the tension, almost like winding a clock. And while perhaps some in the audience will say they have figured out the issue, that misses the point. Knowing that something supernatural is causing these disturbances isn't a secret or a plot twist. We knew that even in 2013 before we bought our ticket. It is watching how the tension snaps that will please audiences.

 

The added layer here is the film is credited as having been based on true events, as documented by self-proclaimed demonologists Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren. One of their most famous cases was the inspiration for the movie "The Amityville Horror" (1979) however as the marketing for "The Conjuring" indicated - go and watch the trailer - this case was kept a "secret" because of how disturbing it was. Only now could the story be told.

Yes, that may be an example of gimmicky sensationalism but everything else in "The Conjuring" is simple and well told. And that, in some ways, makes the story believable. We accept these characters as a family. Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor are a realistic couple and parents. Their reaction to the events around them come across as natural. We relate to them. Taylor in particular is a standout and has some great moments.

Pay attention to a wonderful sequence involving the discovery of a basement. Notice the acting, the framing, and Wan's usage of tried and true techniques. The daughters are playing a game and accidentally knock over a board in their closest. The noise gets mom and dad's attention and soon it is realized there is a doorway being hidden in the closet that leads to a basement. The viewer is already ahead of the characters, the basement was boarded up as a preventive measure to keep spirits away. The father goes down the stairs to the basement to investigate. Mom and the daughters back away so what we are seeing in the distance of the shot is doorway of the basement, which is pitch black. Mom calls out to dad to find out what is down there as the uneasiness reveals itself in her voice and her and the daughters' behavior. All the while the audience is waiting for something not only sinister to happen but for something to come through that black doorway. Why else would it be in frame? That's one example of Wan's understanding of the horror genre. We've seen shots like it before in various other films but it works here because it is done well.

In a sense Wan is playing the audience like a piano. He knows how to build anticipation. Not every moment will be like the one with the basement, as the viewer waits for something to to pop out of the darkness. Wan knows he must switch things up. He takes two approaches. On the one hand he will have only the characters be able to see ghosts and spirits and deny the audience of their presence. The characters will describe the horrific site in front of them which is meant to play on our imagination. It is an old technique that was perfected in such 1940s B horror movies as "The Cat People" (1942) and "The Leopard Man" (1943). The idea being what are mind will imagine will be scarier than anything that will appear on the screen. The second approach is to actually show us a demonic spirit. This of course hits us like a jolt and gives us what some might call a "cheap scare". But not knowing which approach Wan will take in any given scene adds to the anticipation. Wan is also smart enough to know there are times he must defuse the situation to give the audience a breather and find humor.

Like the best horror films of the 1970s, "The Conjuring" also adds a religious undertone to the film, solidifying this battle between good and evil. Ed Warren is not a priest or a member of the church in any compacity. Nor is Lorraine. But they are presented as believers. Making them kind of the moral center of the film. Lorraine is seen with a rosary in her hand. They even suggest to Roger and Carolyn that they may want to baptize their children. 

Personally I've always appreciated the religious undertone in films such as "The Exorcist" (1973), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), and "The Omen" (1976). In fact you could make the case Christianity and the horror genre go hand in hand. What's one way to stop Dracula? Show him a crucifix. If you are a believer, these films play to your perception of reality. And that's what makes them scary. The notion that this could happen. A person could be possessed by a spirit. Exorcism is real. "The Conjuring" plays into this. Ed and Lorraine Warren aren't presented as frauds. They are well meaning people. In the decades following the '70s there was sometimes a tendency to make the religious characters the villains instead of the heroes or try to make the films as secular as possible - think  "Scream"  (1996) and the teen horror films that followed.

And just as convincing as Livingston and Taylor are as a couple so too are Wilson and Farmiga and once again it is the female that turns in the more effective performance. While the Ed and Lorraine characters are the moral center of "The Conjuring", Lorraine is in many ways the film's heart. In Farmiga's hands she presents Lorraine as a nurturing mother figure. In fact much in the film's plot revolves around mothers and children. Which may explain why Carolyn and Lorraine are such intricate characters. In Sarah Mankoff's review in Film Comment she also picked up on the strength of the female characters phrasing it as "the men are mostly relegated to the observation deck, while the women prove to be far more empathetic and therefore more appealing souls for the demons to invade."

As a filmmaker James Wan can sometimes swing wildly at both ends of the spectrum. In addition to "The Conjuring", I really admired one of his prior films, "Insidious" (2010), also with Patrick Wilson. And "The Conjuring 2" (2016) got another four stars out of me. But I was put off by "Saw" (2004) and his most recent work, "Malignant" (2021), another 1970s, Dario Argento-ish inspiration. I actually placed "Malignant" on my worst films of 2021 list! Through it all though Wan has shown he has a good eye and knows how to create suspense and atmosphere. There were moments in "Insidious" that could only be described as eerie. 

"The Conjuring" is the kind of horror film I personally like best. It has a psychological element to it. It isn't a slasher movie, slicing and dicing characters. That never scared me. I just found it disgusting. I also liked films like "The Conjuring" that created a sense of impending doom with the threat of evil in the air. They didn't need to shock us by over using the presence of the villain, to the point we are immune to the sight of the character. A mistake I feel the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series and "Friday the 13th" make.

After taking another look at "The Conjuring", was I right to place it on my top ten list in 2013? Yes. Each and every time I have watched it I have found it effective. The style and atmosphere it creates always pulls in me and the performances always seem convincing.

Horror movies, to some Hollywood insiders and film critic snobs, lacks the cache of great cinema but there were some critics willing to recognize "The Conjuring" on their top ten lists including publications such as Entertainment Weekly, Time Out New York, and Variety. It was not able however to secure nominations of any major awards instead getting nominated by originations like Critics Choice Award, MTV Movie + TV Awards, and a People's Choice Award. The greatest indication of its success may have been its box-office. Made on a $20 million dollar budget, it grossed domestically more than $130 million dollars and over $300 million worldwide.   

And of course it was the beginning of The Conjuring Universe which has included films such as "Annabelle" (2014), "The Nun" (2018), and two additional "Conjuring" sequels. There can, understandably, be a tendency to view this "Universe" as nothing more than a cash grab. Normally I would agree but the difference is, I find each one of these films to be well made. It really did rejuvenate the genre and make the last decade a golden age for fans of horror films. I had never before placed as many horror films on my top ten lists as I did during the decade. I even had to include the "Universe" as a whole on my list of the best films of the last decade.

"The Conjuring" was a welcomed addition to both the demonic possession and haunted house genre. Wan expertly tells his story relying on the fundamentals of the genre. Carefully crafted there are effective performances from Vera Farmiga and Lili Taylor - who was in another haunted house movie, "The Haunting" (1999) - adding emotional depth to the story. Some may say it is predictable but I say it is an excellent example of genre filmmaking.

Film Review: Labyrinth

  "Labyrinth"  

** (out of ****)

Jim Henson's "Labyrinth" (1986) is a dizzying children's fantasy centered around themes of maturity and the balance between imagination and responsibility but it never sets off on a proper path.

"Labyrinth" was Henson's follow-up to "The Dark Crystal" (1982) a surprisingly dark movie, devoid of the playfulness and lightheartedness often associated with Henson's productions such as Sesame Street and the Muppets. As such it was a box-office flop and poorly received by critics. Seemingly eager to duplicate the experience, Henson and company made "Labyrinth", another visually and thematically dark and joyless movie. It too was a box-office flop and critically unpopular.

The late movie critic Gene Siskel, of Siskel & Ebert fame, for example awarded the movie one star in his Chicago Tribune review. When mentioning "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth", Siskel described both of Henson's efforts as "really quite awful, sharing a much too complicated plot and visually ugly style." He further went on to compare the look of some of Henson's creations to the Garbage Pail Kids dolls. Which is not an inaccurate comparison, if we are being honest. Siskel's partner, Chicago Sun-Times movie critic, Roger Ebert felt the movie never came to life and really hit the nail on the head writing, "The movie is too long. Without a strong plot line to pull us through, all movies like this run the danger of becoming just a series of incidents."

Ebert's point illustrates why I always not only respected him as a movie critic but trusted his judgement. We often "saw the same movie" and picked up on similar flaws. It's why I sometimes dislike quoting him because I am afraid some readers will think I am merely copying his opinion. As I watched "Labyrinth" there is a sequence where David Bowie, who plays the Goblin King Jareth, begins to sing and dance with his legion of goblin muppets to a song called Magic Dance. Narratively the sequence serves no purpose. It primarily was an excuse to have Bowie sing a song but it is really filler. It helps to make the movie's running time longer. As I sat there watching this I thought to myself, nothing is holding this movie together. It's just a series of vignettes.

Over the years however both movies have gained a following and acquired defenders - I actually think "The Dark Crystal" was an ambitious and artistic undertaking - and yet at the risk of upsetting a lot of '80s babies (which I am one of) I must admit the "movie critics" were correct, "Labyrinth" is not a very good movie. It seems between both movies "Labyrinth" has the more devoted fan base, especially among my generation, which considers it a "beloved classic". Something I never regarded the movie as. My childhood memories of "Labyrinth" take me back to elementary school where almost every Halloween we would watch it in class, to my dismay and the rest of the class' delight.

"Labyrinth" is either an agglomeration or loving homage to a barrage of well known fairy tales and children stories such as The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Where The Wild Things Are, and Victor Herbert's Babes in Toyland. A discontented, bratty teenage girl, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is forced to babysit her brother while her parents go out for the evening. As the baby, Toby ( Toby Froud) begins to cry, Sarah can't handle the situation and wishes goblins would come to take away her brother, sparing her from a life of inconvenience.

There is a back story to Sarah that is never told in a forthright manner, only hinting at things. It is implied Sarah has a stepmother (Shelley Thompson). My impression was her biological mother died and was a actress, which would explain newspaper clippings on her mirror. Sarah, again merely implied, would like to become an actress and has a great interest in fairy tales. When we first see her she is reciting lines to a story involving a princess, magical kingdoms, goblins and a goblin king. Soon the realization she is late returning home causes her to run in the rain.

Exploring the background story a bit more, or at all, could have potentially made Sarah a sympathetic character, especially to a pre-teen audience, who may be the audience this movie is geared towards. Unfortunately, the impression Sarah gives is that of an overly dramatic, self-centered brat. It doesn't come across as your typical teen angst, just entitlement. The Sarah presented to us is at an awkward stage between child and adulthood. She likes her stories and stuffed animals and at the same time her parents expect her to accept responsibility, which she is reluctant to take on. By the end of the movie the character, we assume, will grow. 

It just so happens there is a group of goblins in the walls of Sarah's home waiting attentively for her to utter the words, she wishes the goblins would take her baby brother. And here we must stop again. Why are goblins in her home? Have they been following her for a while? Do all homes with children have goblins assigned to them? Are the goblins capable to doing household chores and what would be their rates?

As luck would have it - for the goblins anyway - Sarah does wish for them to take her brother. Within an instant, Sarah not only notices her brother is gone but also regrets her wish and wants her brother to return. This she learns cannot be after the Goblin King swoops into her home disguised as an owl (which for some reason made me think of Harry Potter). After he transforms into a man with Tina Turner like hair, he informs Sarah her actions have consequences and should accept her brother is gone. Her persistence however leads the Goblin King to present Sarah with an opportunity. She can have her brother back if she can reach his castle, located at the center of an elaborate labyrinth in 13 hours.

Everything I've described happens rather quickly in the movie. So quickly in fact I don't believe Sarah learned her first lesson, actions have consequences. The plot is being rushed. Sarah's growth is too sudden. She quickly feels remorse and concern for her brother. This is all done to immediately take us to what Henson must believe is a magical world.

But nothing in this Labyrinth world feels magical. Surreal, yes but I never really felt I was watching a truly magnificent spectacle. Not that I doubt the level of craft that the production team put in to create it. When Dorothy entered the land of Oz, you knew it was special if for no other reason the lavish colors. It presented such a contrast to the drab black & white world of Kansas. The Labyrinth world Sarah enters looks dreary and depressing. I wonder if this was an inspiration for Guillermo del Toro and his masterpiece "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006) a fairy tale gone wrong. The difference is del Toro's movie was for adults and he could lean into the nightmare qualities of his story. Henson is trying to have it both ways. He can't create such a nightmare-ish scenario and not scare children away.

One of the first creatures Sarah meets in this world is Hoggle, whom at one point Sarah mistakenly calls Hogwart, our second Harry Potter reference. He is a dwarf character who is crafty, cowardice, self-centered, and untrustworthy. He knows his way around the Labyrinth and could help Sarah if he chose to. There is a minimal level of suspense created making the viewer question if he works for the Goblin King or if he is befriending Sarah. It serves the purpose of creating another lesson for Sarah, not to take things for granted like her family and friends.

Sarah befriends two more creatures Ludo, a giant monster like character that recalls Where The Wild Things Are. Despite his appearance he is friendly. Then there is a fox terrier named Sir Didymus, who despite his diminutive size regards himself as something of a great medieval knight. In a scene recalling "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), the fox will not allow Sarah and her friends to cross a bridge without permission.  

This sequence with Sir Didymus is another example of filler. When the gang meets Didymus they are in the "Bog of Eternal Stench", a kind of flatulent island. Perhaps it is meant to make really small children laugh but it serves no purpose and wears out its welcome. Establishing that "Labyrinth" is little more than a series of "adventures" strung together by a flimsy plot.

Besides the Magic Dance sequence and the "Bog of Eternal Stench" the most egregious of these mindless filler sequences is a ballroom sequence. Between this and Magic Dance it feels like we have placed two music videos in the middle of a movie.

This may also present a new issue with "Labyrinth" when watched with modern eyes, as it nears its 40th anniversary. The creepiness of the relationship between the Goblin King and Sarah. Is this man hitting on a teenage girl? Is she in some weird way attracted to him? Is this part of becoming a woman for Sarah? It may explain why in the Magic Dance sequence another older movie is invoked, "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" (1947) with Cary Grant and Shirley Temple, in her first role as a teenager. In that movie she has a crush on a older man (Grant) who is ordered by a court to take her out on a date, as a way to lessen her attraction. The movie has a famous exchange of dialogue:

You remind me of a man.

What man?

The man with the power

What power?

Power of Hoodoo

Hoodoo?

You do?

What?

Remind me of a man

At the beginning of the Magic Dance song the Goblin King recites this dialogue. But who is going to notice this? I didn't come across any reviews that pointed this out. With Jim Henson and David Bowie gone, research has shown I'm the only person alive that remembers "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer". Which leads to the question, who is this movie for in the first place?

Performance wise, David Bowie seems to be having a good time but it isn't what I would necessarily call a "good performance". Gene Siskel said of Bowie, "(he) looks as out of place in this film as if he were hosting the Grand Ol' Opry." Connelly, whom Siskel described as "forgettable", does seem a little stiff and doesn't play a full range of emotions convincingly. She had made her acting debut two years prior in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In America" (1984) and also had a role in one of Italian horror maestro's Dario Argento's better films, "Phenomena" (1985). Nothing in "Labyrinth" however suggest to me she would go one to become a terrific Academy Award winning actress. For a while she was a hot commodity situating herself as one of our finest actresses.

I don't know if "Labyrinth" is a suitable movie to watch this "spooky season", as I don't consider it a horror movie. But it is often associated with Halloween. "Labyrinth" is a dismal movie not really meant for younger children and I wouldn't think interesting enough to hold the attention of teenagers and adults. There will be a nostalgia factor for some that saw this as kids in the '80s but with adult eyes, I really can't imagine many people finding this to be a great or worthwhile movie. It doesn't compare to the classic family movies before it, some of which it pays homage to. The characters aren't likable, the moral isn't obvious, and the plot is confusing at best and too weak for a feature-length movie.